National Botanic Garden’s Welsh Antiques Fair and Vintage Market will be packed with treasures
THE ever-popular Welsh Antiques Fair and Vintage Market held at the National Botanic Garden of Wales on Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 will be playing host to some amazing collections.
Demand is high, so fans of collectibles, curios and classic antiques should make their way to the various Botanic Garden venues – including the Lord Foster-designed Great Glasshouse – for displays of Welsh art and pottery, quality jewellery and an outstanding glass paperweight collection, plus rare collections of coins.
A rare American-cast Monkey Bank money box will be on show at the fair. Although today most people deposit their savings in banks, many have a money box at home, in some shape or form. The content of money boxes is real “treasure”, especially for small children who can gain an understanding of saving in this way. However the origin of saving coins dates back to the distant past. This rare cast metal money box on display dates back to the last century. These mechanical money boxes were intended for advertising purposes and originated in the USA. Movement of a small lever pushed the coin to the right place. They came in all shapes. The one on display depicts a cheeky monkey depositing a coin in the shoe-shiner’s box. These types of money box were very popular with children and are highly sought after.
The success of this fair is mainly down to its unique setting, the Great Glasshouse, designed by Norman Foster.
There is also a hidden gem tucked away beside the Millennium Courtyard – the large wedding marquee – where you will find a large range of pine and oak furniture, rare books, treen and Ewenny pottery.
Theatr Botanica houses taxidermy and the exotic, and yet more antiques are in the Gallery room. The fair has also expanded into the Millennium Courtyard, filling it with a vintage antiques market.
The prestigious National Botanic Garden of Wales nestles into the Carmarthenshire countryside on the outskirts of Carmarthen and is just 15 minutes from the end of the M4.
The fair opens at 10am and closes at 4.30pm. Admission to the Garden and for the antiques weekend is just £5. Dogs are welcome.
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